Sargent and Company Records
1980.0038

Summary Information

Repository
Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Research Center, University of Connecticut Libraries
Creator
Sargent and Company.
Title
Sargent and Company Records
ID
1980.0038
Date
undated, 1720-1955.
Extent
188.0 Linear feet
Language
Abstract
Sargent and Company was a manufacturer of locks and hardware, with headquarters in New Haven, Connecticut. Originally established in New York City as a commission business, Sargent and Company relocated to New Britain, Connecticut, several years later under the name J.B. Sargent & Company. Unable to expand at this location, Sargent purchased land in New Haven, Connecticut, and moved the company, one hundred employees and their families on 1 May 1865. By 1887, the plant had expanded to sixteen acres of floor space and employed almost 1,700 employees. Joseph B. Sargent was prominent in New Haven politics and was elected mayor in 1890. In 1892, he was nominated as the Democratic candidate for governor, but was defeated. Upon his death in 1907, his brother, George Stewart Sargent, became president of Sargent and Company. In 1972, Sargent and Company became a division of Walter Kidde & Company of Belleville, New Jersey, a manufacturer of safety, security and protection products.

Preferred Citation

[Item description, #:#], Sargent and Company Records.  Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Research Center,  University of Connecticut Libraries.

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History

Sargent and Company was a manufacturer of locks and hardware, with headquarters in  New Haven, Connecticut. It was founded by  Joseph B. Sargent, who was born in  Leicester, Massachusetts, in 1822. He began his career as a clerk in a Boston dry goods store, where he rose to the position of manager. Upon the death of his employer in 1842, Joseph and his brother, Edward, moved to  Griffin, Georgia, and established a successful mercantile business. After a few years, the brothers moved to New York City, where they started a commission business called  Sargent and Company. The Company acted as sales agent for  Peck and Walter Manufacturing Company. When Peck and Walter closed,  Joseph Sargent moved to  New Britain, Connecticut, and created the  J.B. Sargent & Company. Unable to expand the company at this location, Sargent purchased land in  New Haven, Connecticut, and moved the company there on 1 May 1865, along with one hundred employees and their families. The company continued to manufacture small hardware items, and added a coffin hardware department. The following year, the company was incorporated, with capital of $300,000.

The Sargent and Company commission house in New York continued to sell hardware items, along with the goods produced in New Haven, to other manufacturers, reaching a sales volume of $1,738,000 in 1869.

Sargent and Company acted as sole agent for  Mallory, Wheeler & Company, a manufacturer of locks and builders' hardware. After losing this lucrative account,  Joseph Sargent began manufacturing his own locks and builders' hardware, hiring  William E. Sparks, a leading expert, to run the department. The company produced a line of locks with standardized parts and simplified inner mechanisms.

By 1887, the plant had expanded to sixteen acres of floor space and employed almost 1,7000 people. The yearly payroll was $1,000,000 or about $600 per employee per year. The pay rate was $1.50 per ten hour day with a six day work week. Immigrants filled lower employee ranks, with Italians the largest single group. Employees were well treated for the times, but J.B. Sargent refused to tolerate unions. An employee strike occurred in 1902 over employee demands for a union shop and a 15% wage increase. The strike lasted for three weeks until Sargent threatened to replace all striking workers.

Joseph B. Sargent was prominent in the New Haven political scene, and was elected mayor of the city in 1890. In 1892, he was nominated as the Democratic candidate for governor, but was defeated. Upon his death in 1907, his brother,  George Stewart Sargent, became president of  Sargent and Company.

By 1900, Sargent and Company was one of the preeminent companies in the lock and builders' hardware field, employing 2,000 workers. From 1900 to 1923, the company pioneered several new patents and processes, guaranteeing itself advantage over competitors. In 1928, however, rising manufacturing costs and a decline in profits forced the Board of Directors to elect an outsider,  B.W. Burtsell, as president and general manager. Despite the fact the new management reduced costs and eliminated many unprofitable items, profits continued to decline steeply throughout the depression years, making it impossible for the company to pay a dividend to stockholders until 1938, when it sold off its New York sales office to the City of New York.

In 1972, Sargent and Company became a division of Walter Kidde & Company of  Belleville, New Jersey, a manufacturer of safety, security and protection products.

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Scope and Content

The collection includes extensive documentation of the company's activities and development from the mid 19th century through the mid 20th century. Documentation includes correspondence, administrative, legal and financial records, publications, reports, blueprints, notes and family papers. Detailed information, gaps, and dates are included in the series descriptions.

The collection also includes some information concerning the Peck and Walter Manufacturing Company, a predecessor of  Sargent and Company, and two subsidiary firms—  Sargent Card Clothing Company and the  Sargent Wharf Company.

Note on Sampling of Series IV: Subseries H: Product Cost Records—the 25 volumes of Product Cost Records represent a systematic sampling of 472 volumes found in the collection. The records contain a detailed analysis of each cost component for production and sale of a wide variety of products, including each part of every product (e.g., each pin for a lock). These records were only kept for an eight year period, until a simplified card system was developed. The 472 volumes formed several natural groupings, such as Locks, Coffin hardware, Escutcheons, and “Old cost sheets.” The number of volumes in each group ranged from 4 to 209. It was decided to save a 5% sample, selected in order to make the sample for each of the groups of volumes produce relatively the same variance and reliability of data in relation to each category. The following procedure was used: the square root of the number of volumes in each group was divided by the number of volumes to be saved (25). The number of volumes in each group was then divided by this factor, and this product was rounded off to determine the number of volumes to save for each group of volumes. This number ranged from 1 to 7. The volumes to be saved were selected from each category of volumes, using random number tables. This sample should thus produce statistically reliable data for the pre-sample universe of 472 volumes.

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Arrangement

Series I: Administrative Records ( undated, 1878-1955, bulk 1902-1954) is comprised of eight subseries:  Annual Reports (1939-1942),  Reports to Stockholders (1917-1954),  Reports (1903-1955),  Office Files (1878-1955, bulk 1902-1955),  Union Relations (1902-1954, bulk 1946-1954),  Stanley R. Cullen Files (1941-1955),  Cost Analyses (1909-1952, bulk 1909-1936),  Private Journals and Ledgers (1888-1921).  Reports were undertaken by the company to appraise policies and procedures or to examine developments affecting the industry. Reports were prepared in-house or by consultants.  Office Files consists of alphabetically arranged subject files, including such topics as employee relations, foremen's training, trade associations and public relations. A few publications are also included.  Union Relations contains subject files, surveys, reports and publications. Included in these files are materials regarding communism in the work force, employee attitudes, strike negotiations, and publications from the  United Electrical Radio and Machine Workers of America (U.E.).  Stanley R. Cullen Files represent the personal files, daily activity loges, and notebooks of the company's personnel director.  Costs Analyses contains records of standard costs and labor and production expenses.  Private Journals and Ledgers is a very small subseries consisting of five bound volumes, some with security locks, of general and private records.

Series II: Legal Records ( 1830-1953) includes general agreements, specific electrotype agreements and settlements.  Correspondence (1871-1917) is arranged alphabetically by subject or name.  Lawsuits and Opinions (1870-1912) is arranged alphabetically by subject and includes extensive material on the Yale and Towne suit against Sargent and Company.  Patents (1830-1916) includes patent designs, patent assignments, and patents. This subseries represents a thorough record of the company's technological expertise for nearly 90 years.

Series III: Correspondence ( undated, 1884-1942) is arranged in four subseries:  General Correspondence (1884-1912),  Selected Topical Correspondence (1896-1942),  Sales Correspondence (1886-1942), and  Letter Copy Books (1887-1903).  General Correspondence has four sections. The first section is an alphabetically arranged section of general business letters, incoming and outgoing (1885-1887). The second section, alphabetically arranged, contains general business correspondence, incoming and outgoing (1894-1902). The third section consists of a partial alphabetical sequence of letters (A-C and T-W only) from 1884-1912. The fourth section consists of letters chronologically arranged from 1911 to 1918.  Selected Topical Correspondence contains papers and letters regarding a variety of topics, including: the  Association of Hardware Manufacturers, the coffin hardware department and its dealings with funeral goods companies, the New York and Chicago offices of  Sargent and Company, foundry data,  Ziegler Sargent's work with  Hopkins Grammar School, inventors, machinery, purchases of plants and products,  J.B. Sargent's foreign trips, the screw industry, and hunting traps.  Sales Correspondence is arranged alphabetically by correspondent and includes materials dating 1886 and 1937-1942, the bulk of which dates 1942. The correspondence is from sales agents, company managers and customers.  Letter Copy Books comprise the fourth subseries. Included in these bound volumes are letter press copies of outgoing letters of  H. B. Sargent and  E. R. Sargent. Also there are New York Office letter books, credit books, order books and general letter books.

Series IV: Production Records ( undated, 1866-1950) is organized into eight subseries:  Machinery Repair Manuals (undated),  Plant Orders (1823-1850),  Inventories (1880-1900, 1948-1950),  Production (1866-1950),  Specifications: World War II Production (1940-1949),  Blueprints (1920-1944),  Process Sheets and Production Schedules (1944, 1946), and  Product Cost Records (1916-1924).  Production includes subject files regarding inventory, equipment information, emergency product change records, defense housing, and hardware specifications.  Blueprints consists primarily of designs for wartime production of ordnance parts, housing hardware and other military products.  Product Cost Records includes 25 volumes of systematically sampled cost analysis books for the period 1916-1924.

Series V: Labor Records ( 1864-1927) is arranged in six subseries:  Employee Registers (1854-1919) consists of bound volumes that record the name, address, date employed and previous employment history of  Sargent and Company employees. Payroll records, maintained by date or by department, comprise the bulk of this series.  Wage Ledgers, Salary Ledgers, and  Piece Work Ledgers all contain employees' name, weekly rate and aggregate salary.  Contracts contains records of subcontracting work and apprentice agreements.  Other Labor records contains labor related materials that are not appropriate for the previously identified subseries.

Series VI: Sales ( 1852-1955) is organized into three subseries:  Sales Records includes notices from management to salesmen, confidential prices, sales manuals and various account books and price books.  Sales Journals consist of bound volumes with titles such as “Coffin Hardware,” “New England Territory,” “Locks” and “Small Exports.”  Catalogs includes catalogs from  Sargent and Company and other companies.

Series VII: General Accounts ( 1858-1955) includes the following subseries:  Cash Books (1867-1910),  Day Books—New York Office (1900-1910),  Day Books (1872-1880),  Journals (1864-1888, 1900-1927),  Invoices Payable (1899-1904),  Check Registers (1878, 1897, 1906-1910),  Trial Balances (1897-1926),  Ledgers (1864-1928), and  Financial Records and Accounts (1868-1954).  Ledgers includes sets of ledgers for the New York and New Haven offices, coffin hardware and states.  Financial Records and Accounts consists of various ledgers, journals and internal financial statements.

Series VIII: Predecessor and Subsidiary Companies ( 1853-1879) is a small series that contains the limited records of  Peck and Walter Manufacturing Company, the predecessor of Sargent and Company, and two subsidiary firms—  Sargent Card Clothing Company and the  Sargent Wharf Company. This series is comprised of record books pertaining to the initial formal organization of these companies.

Series IX: Sargent Family Papers ( 1720-1955) consists of genealogical materials collected by  Zeigler Sargent and other family members, personal and some business correspondence of family members. Biographical materials and family photographs.  Zeigler Sargent's manuscripts and notes regarding family and Sargent Company history constitute a substantial portion of the series. Also included is the Sargent genealogical publication,  Sargentrivia. Records in this series are alphabetically arranged by family member name and then by type of material.

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Administrative Information

Publication Information

 Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Research Center, University of Connecticut Libraries July 1990

University of Connecticut Libraries
405 Babbidge Road Unit 1205
Storrs, Connecticut, 06269
860.486.2524
archives@uconn.edu

Restrictions on Access

There are no access restrictions on this collection.

Restrictions on Use

Permission to publish from these Papers must be obtained in writing from both the University of Connecticut Libraries and the owner(s) of the copyright.

Custodial History

The Sargent and Company Records were donated to  Yale University by  Zeigler Sargent and other company officials between 1940 and 1964.

Acquisition Information

The collection was donated to the University of Connecticut Libraries by  Yale University in January 1980.

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Related Materials

Related Material

Archives & Special Collections has a substantial collection of materials pertaining to Connecticut businesses. See also the records of American Brass Company, American Hardware Corporation and M.S. Brooks Company. At the Stamford Campus, see the Yale & Towne Company Records. For detailed information on these collections please contact the curator or ask at the reference desk.

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Controlled Access Headings

Genre(s)

  • Administrative Records.
  • Blueprints.
  • Contracts.
  • Correspondence.
  • Diaries.
  • Financial Records.
  • Inventories.
  • Lawsuits.
  • Obituaries.
  • Oral Histories.
  • Patents (licenses).
  • Photocopies.
  • Photographs.
  • Speeches.

Occupation(s)

  • Manufacturer.

Subject(s)

  • Clothing trade—Connecticut.
  • Connecticut—Business, industries, and trades—Locks.
  • Hardware industry—Connecticut.
  • Locks and keys—Connecticut.
  • Locks and keys—New York (State)—New York.
  • Manufactures—Connecticut.
  • New Haven (Conn.)—Business, industries and trades—Locks.
  • New York (N.Y.)—Business, industries, and trades—Locks.
  • Sargent, Edward.
  • Sargent, J. B. (Joseph B.), fl. 1849-1850.
  • Wharves—Connecticut.

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Bibliography

David E. Heckel, Sargent Planes Identification and Value Guide. Charleston, IL: Forty Five Publishing, c1997. Dodd Reference TJ 1201. P55 H42 1997

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Collection Inventory

Series I: Administrative Records, undated, 1878-1955 

Subseries A: Annual Reports,  1939-1942 
Box

Annual Reports, 1939-1942   (5 folders)

 1

Subseries B: Reports to Stockholders,  1917-1954 
Box

Reports to Stockholders, 1917-1954 

 1

Subseries C: Reports, undated, 1903-1955 

Outside Studies 
Box

Factory Accounting, 1903 

 1

Report on investigation of office procedure, graphical analysis of methods in operation, 1924 

Department control procedures, 1925   (1 v.)

Recommendations on procedures, General Superintendent, 1925   (1 v.)

Report on cost system, 1925   (2 v.)

Special Report for Year End, 1929, 1930 

Inside Studies 
Box

“Statistical Side of Intelligent Merchandising” by H.B. Sargent, 1925 

 1

Report on locks, 1934 

Safety Committee Reports, 1946, 1949-1951 

Methods and Standards reports, 1945-1955   (7 folders)

Standard Hour Efficiency reports, 1949-1955   (3 folders)

Engineering Reports to Executive Committee, 1948-1955   (4 folders)

Subseries D: Office Files, undated, 1878-1955 
Box

Accomplishments, 1941-1948 

 1

American Anti-Boycott Association, 1904 

American Brass Founders' Association, 1908 

American Hardware Manufacturing Association, 1929 

Annual reports, departmental, 1946-1948 

Belleville Hardware and Lock acquisition, 1930 

Bigelow, Kent, Willard and Company, 1931 

Board of Education, 1949-1950 

Committee for Economic Development, undated 

Connecticut Committee, Inc., 1947 

Departmental meetings (3 folders), 1945-1954 
Box

Contract Association papers, 1900-1909 

 1a

Departmental meetings, 1945-1954   (3 folders)
Box

Departmental meetings, 1945-1954   (3 folders)

 2

Dibble, Real Estate, 1949-1951 

“Do” Rating, 1950-1952 

Employee orientation pamphlets, 1938-1954 

Employee testimonial dinners, 1902-1950 

Facilities Report, war production, undated 

Farren, G., 1946-1952 

Flemming, D.J., 1951-1954 

Foremen's meetings, 1942-1945 

Foremen's supervisory test, 1948 

Foremen's talks with their people, 1944-1954   (2 folders)

Foremen Training, Research Institute of America, 1947-1952 

Foremen's Union, 1945-1947 

Form letters to stockholders, 1928-1929, 1943 

Foundation for Company Giving, 1952 

Gaston, William, 1948-1951 

General Electric Company Program, 1947-1948 

Giese, M.R., 1942-1951 

Good Housekeeping, 1948-1950 

Handy Associates, Inc., 1947 

Hardware Consultant, 1955 

Hardware Manufacturing consolidation suggestions, 1893 

Hosking, H., 1948-1950 

I.B.M. accounting, 1950 

Industrial Exposition, 1952 

Industrial mobilization, 1949-1950 

Industry meetings, correspondence, wages, 1947-1951   (2 folders)

Industry, general, 1947-1949   (2 folders)

International Waterways Commission, 1906 

Job specifications and schedules, undated 

Kelly, J.S., Cost Reduction Program, 1946-1950   (2 folders)
Box

Keyways, 1944-1953 

 3

Lewis, W.S., 1948-1955 

Machine Room Agreement, 1915 

Motion pictures, 1948-1950 

Multiple Management Plan, undated 

Munitions components, 1945 

Music in industry, 1947 

National Foundry Association, 1943-1956 

National Metal Trades Association, 1943-1953 

New Haven Register clippings, 1928-1954 

Parkevin Corporation, 1949-1950 

Parking, 1953 

Parrish, Lawrence L., 1948-1950 

Plant layout maps, 1925-1951 

Profit sharing, 1951 

Public relations, 1948-1952   (2 folders)

Quality control literature, 1949 

Returned goods reports, 1928-1942 

Returned goods correspondence, 1949 

840 Roll, 1943-1952 

Fred Ruge, Inc., 1947-1948 

Fred Ruge, termination control, undated 

Fred Ruge, pre-employment evaluation, undated 

Sargent and Company Trust Fund, 1952 

Sargent Sentinel 1937 

Steel Founders Society of America, 1909 

Strap and T-Hinge Corporation, 1878 

Suggestions, 1907-1920 

Vacation notices, 1932-1935 

World's Fair, New York, 1939 

Wyland, H.C., 1947-1949 

Yale Scholarship Fund, 1952 

Subseries E: Union Relations, 1902-1954 

Absentee reports, 1949-1953   (2 folders)

Communism in labor unions, 1946-1950   (2 folders)
Box

Communist propaganda at gate prior to 1949 negotiations, 1948-1949 

 4

Employee Attitude Surveys: Foremen, 1947 

Employee Attitude Surveys: Literature, 1947-1949 

Employee shows, 1949-1950 

Employment interview pattern, 1947 

Exit interview, 1946-1947 

Exits, analysis reports, 1947-1952 

Labor turnover reports, 1945-1949   (2 folders)

Schollhorn Division, 1948 

Strike negotiations, 1902 

Strike negotiations, 1947, 1952 

Strike vote notices, 1947 

Training on the job, 1946 

U.E. kit for teachers, 1949 

U.E. News, 1947-1950   (5 folders)
Box

U.E. News, 1950-1954   (5 folders)

 5

U.E. News clippings, 1949-1954   (3 folders)

United Office and Professional Workers of America, C.I.O., 1947 

Subseries F: Stanley R. Cullen Files, undated, 1941-1955 

Personal—War Labor Board, 1943-1944   (2 folders)

Personal, 1941-1945   (4 folders)
Box

Personal, 1946-1955   (7 folders)

 6

Speech, undated 

New Haven College, 1952-1954 

Log, 1950-1955   (10 folders)

Personal notebook, undated 

Subseries G: Cost Analyses, 1909-1952 
Box

Investigation of standard costs, 1924   (1 v.)

 7

Analysis of administrative expense, 1921-1927 

Product labor and expense, 1912-1927   (4 folders)

Labor cost ratios by product class, 1925-1927 

Total employment record, all departments, 1919, 1927 

Employee records, 1927-1928 

Overtime, weekly production, 1927-1928 

Cost analysis studies by various categories, 1909-1928   (2 folders)

Report on Operations from 1933-1934, 1934-1935   (2 folders)

Administrative breakdown of expense, 1935-1936   (2 folders)

Expense detail sheets for 1951, 1952 
Box

Labor cost ratios by product class, 1923   (2 folders)

 8

Product cost by various categories, 1926-1927 

Cost analysis studies by various categories, 1927-1931   (2 folders)
Box

Cost analysis by various categories, 1927-1931 

 9

Labor/cost ratios, 1924-1927 

 10

Subseries H: Private Journals and Ledgers, 1888-1921 
Box

General ledger, 1888-1911 

 11

General ledger, 1910-1921 

 12

Private journal, 1911-1919 

 13

Private ledger, 1910-1918 

 14

Private ledger, New York, 1909-1918 

 15

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Series II: Legal Records, 1830-1953 
Box

Contracts, 1880-1910   (3 folders)

 16

Articles of Association, 1864, 1948 

Contracts, 1926-1953 

Subseries A: Agreements, 1877-1926 

Agreements, 1877-1879, 1909 

Agreements, 1913-1914 

Electrotype Agreements, 1898-1926   (2 folders)

Settlements, 1894, 1928-1954 

Subseries B: Correspondence, 1871-1917 

Boggs Estate, 1909-1910   (3 folders)

Bourne-Povell, 1948 

Branford Lock Works, 1894 

Bristol, Stoddard, Beach and Fisher, 1899-1914   (5 folders)

East Street Wharf, 1894 

Fair Haven Water Company, 1871-1881 

Miles, Frederick (Texas Land), 1892 

Nashville Burial Case Company, 1871-1881 

Payne Die Casting Company, 1915-1917 

Russell and Irwin Company, 1909-1910 

J.B. Sargent and  Harry Sargent, 1887-1906   (4 folders)

Trademarks, 1871-1905 

Subseries C: Lawsuits and Opinions, 1870-1912 

Barkentin, 1881 

Bay State Hardware Company, 1870-1889 

Dodman, William, 1884 

Enterprise Manufacturing Company, 1891-1909 

Hart, Blivan and Mead, 1877 

Iron Molders Union v. I & E. Greenwald Company, 1906 

Martin Roshock Estate, 1902 

N.H. Steamboat Company, 1894 
Box

Yale and Towne Suit, 1885-1912, 1914   (5 folders)

 17

Yale and Towne v. Sargent Company testimony v. II, undated 

Lawsuits and Opinions, 1884-1911   (4 folders)

Subseries D: Patents, 1830-1916 

Unidentified materials, printed matter, notes, 1860-1913 

Patents, ca. 1830-1839 

Patents, ca. 1840-1849   (2 folders)

Patents, 1850-1852 

Patents, 1853-1859 

Patents, 1860-1866 

Patents, 1867-1869 

Patents, 1870s   (2 folders)

Affidavits (German), 1880 

Patent Designs, 1831-1872   (5 folders)
Box

Patent Designs, 1872-1892, 1895-1916   (7 folders)

 18

Patent Designs, U.S. published patents, 1875   (2 v.)

Plane patents, 1867-1911   (4 folders)
Box

Patent assignments, 1855-1916   (14 folders)

 19

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Series III: Correspondence, undated, 1884-1942 

Subseries A: General Correspondence, 1884-1912 
Box

Bra - Swi, 1885-1887   (15 folders)

 20

Wad - Whi, 1885-1887   (4 folders)

 21

Ab - Bar, 1898-1900   (11 folders)
Box

Bar - Bro, 1898-1902   (15 folders)

 22

Bry - Cy, 1898-1902   (15 folders)

 23

Cro - Har, 1898-1902   (14 folders)

 24

Har - Lan, 1898-1902   (15 folders)

 25

Lan - Ov, 1898-1902   (16 folders)

 26

Pa - Rog, 1894-1901   (15 folders)

 27

Rog - Sti, 1894-1901   (14 folders)

 28

Sto - Zu, 1898-1901   (16 folders)

 29

A - C, T - W, 1884-1912   (5 folders)

 30

General Correspondence, 1911-1915   (26 folders)
Box

General Correspondence, 1915-1918   (40 folders)

 31

Subseries B: Selected Topical Correspondence, 1896-1942 
Box

Association of Manufacturers, 1848-1903   (5 folders)

 32

Cast iron A - Z, 1890-1901 

Casket hardware, 1876-1894, 1900-1906   (2 folders)

Coffin hardware, 1900-1902   (12 folders)

Coons, H.T. Chicago Agency, 1902   (3 folders)

Foundry data, 1899 

French, Howard, 1899-1900 
Box

French, Howard, 1889-1902   (9 folders)

 33

Hardware, general, 1892-1900 

Hopkins Grammar School, 1923-1935 

Inventors, 1915-197   (6 folders)

Liberty Loans, 1917-1918 

Licenses, 1909, 1913 

Machinery (5 folders), 1894-1917 
Box

Machinery (4 folders), 1911-1916 

 34

O.P.A. (8 folders), 1942-1946 

Purchase of plants and products, 1890-1905 

Sargent, J.B.—Trips, 1887-1924   (6 folders)

Screws, 1893-1895 

Traps and ringers, 1886 

Subseries C: Sales Correspondence, 1886-1942 

Brittingham, E. F., 1942 

Crawford, A. J., 1942   (7 folders)

Cook, A. H., 1942 

Edwards, B. P., 1942 
Box

Hammer, F. R., 1941-1942   (2 folders)

 35

Higgins, H. L., 1942 

Hoogkirk, S. O., 1942 

Keyes, J. J., 1942 

Lawrence, S. D., 1942 

New York Agents, 1886   (7 folders)

New York, 1942   (2 folders)

Rafter squares, 1912-1915 

Reid, A. L., 1942 

Salaman, R. G., 1942 

Frank Sample, Inc., 1942 

Scott, W. D., 1942 

Search, W. A., 1942 

Sears and Roebuck, 1942   (3 folders)

Shapleigh Hardware, 1942 

Strattman, H. S., 1942 

Sullivan, W. C., 1942 

Thalleen, N. J., 1942 

Valentine, L. E., 1942 

Van Housen, H. L., 1942 

George Worthington Company, 1937-1942   (3 folders)

Wurzbach, A. J., 1942 

Zeigler, A. C., 1942 

Subseries D: Letter Copy Books, undated, 1887-1903 
Box

H. B. Sargent, 1887-1903   (3 v.)

 36

E. R. Sargent, 1897-1898   (3 v.)
Box

E. R. Sargent, 1899   (2 v.)

 37

New York letter books, 1897-1900   (4 v.)
Box

New York letter books, 1898-1901   (5 v.)

 38

Credits to Sargent Company, 1895-1898   (1 v.)
Box

Credits to Sargent Company, 1899-1901   (1 v.)

 39

Order books, 1894-1898   (4 v.)
Box

Order books, 1898-1900   (4 v.)

 40

General letter book, 1897-1898   (1 v.)
Box

General letter book, 1898-1900   (5 v.)

 41

General letter book, 1900-1905   (5 v.)

 42

Unidentified letter book, undated   (4 v.)

 43

Return to Table of Contents »

Series IV: Production Records, undated, 1866-1950 

Subseries A: Machinery Repair Manuals,, undated, 1913-1914 
Box

Book No. 1 (machines 1-1908), undated 

 44

Book No. 2 (machines 1909-3826), undated 

 45

Book No. 3 (machines 3827-5663), undated 

 46

Care, Maintenance and Repair, 1913-1914 

 47

Subseries B: Plant Orders, undated, 1823-1850 
Box

65728-72945, 1923 January - October 

 47

72946-80022, 1924 October - July 

80040-87942, 1924 July - 1925 June 
Box

87943-95127, 1925 June - 1926 March 

 48

1-7734, 1927 

97994-101673 (record sheets), 1926-1927 

200-7195, undated 

Subseries C: Inventories, 1880-1900, 1948-1950 
Box

Record of inventory, 1888-1900 

 49

Inventory, 1889-1894 

 50

Inventories (raw materials, work in progress, finished goods), 1948-1950 

 51

Subseries D: Production, 1866-1950 
Box

Cost of wrought iron, 1866-1870 

 52

Metal mixtures, 1889-1894   (2 folders)

Calorimeters, 1903 

Gas used by department, 1921-1925 

Inventories and shipments, 1923-1927   (3 folders)

Scrap charge summary, 1924-1930 

Standard material prices, 1918-1926 

French visit to view production, 1950 

Subseries E: Specifications--World War II Production, 1940-1949 

Alden and Eldredge McInnis, Inc., 1942 

Army and Navy, 1942-1944   (5 folders)
Box

Army and Navy, 1942-1944   (3 folders)

 53

Army purchase information, 1943 

Army-Navy builders hardware, c. 1940-1949 

Selling to the Navy, 1940 

Bidder's reference book, 1942 

Consolidating Shipbuilding Corporation, 1942 

Lock conversion, 1942 

Packaging and packing, 1942-1944 

Emergency Product Committee meetings, 1942 

Emergency Product Changes, 1942   (3 folders)

Emergency specifications for builders hardware, 1940-1942 

Catonments, 1940-1942   (5 folders)

Defense Housing Critical list, 1942 

Permanent Public buildings, 1942 

Subseries F: Blueprints, 1920-1944 
Box

Defense Department, 1922-1924   (approx. 25)

 54

Ordnance, 1943   (2 v.)

 55

Army Air Corps drawings, 1942 

 56

Army ordnance drawings, 1941-1943 

Aviation ordnance—bomb shackles, 1943   (2 v.)

Chemical warfare, 1941 

Engineer Corps drawings, 1920-1921, 1942 

Medical Corps drawings, 1942 

Navy ordnance drawings, 1942 

Navy drawings, 1942 

Signal Corps drawings, 1930-1943 

War products drawings, 1942 
Box

Ordnance assembly blueprints, 1941-1942 

 57

Special and ordnance blueprints, 1941-1943 

Quartermaster Corps, 1921-1940   (3 v.)

Subseries G: Process Sheets and Production Schedules, undated, 1944, 1946 
Box

Bomb rack MK 47 sheets 

 58

1 - 100, undated 

101 - 200, undated 

201 - 279, undated 

Production schedule 

 1944   (1 v.)

A - G, 1946 

H - L, 1946 

M - Z, 1946 

Subseries H: Product Cost Records, [See note above for sampling technique] 1916-1924 
Box

Adjusters to Butts 

 59

Butts 

 60

Bolts 

 61-62

Coffin Hardware 

 63-64

Transom lifts to door checks 

 65

Door checks 

 66

Escutcheons 

 67-68

Locks 

 69-70

Eyes to sash fasteners 

 71

Sash cord irons to door knobs 

 72

Case fasteners 

 73

Plane to label plate 

 74

Old cost sheets 

 75-81

Obsolete 

 82-83

Return to Table of Contents »

Series V: Labor Records, 1864-1927 

Subseries A: Employee Registers, 1854-1919 
Box

Employee Register Index, 1864-1902 

 84-85

Employee Register, 1864-1919 

 86-91

Subseries B: Wage Ledgers, 1873-1907 
Box

Monday, 1873-1875 

 92

Saturday, 1875-1879 

 93

Tuesday, 1880-1882 

 94

Tuesday, 1886-1887 

 95

Wages ledgers, 1874-1907 

 96-117

Department 1, 1890-1897 

 118-120

Department 2, 1894-1897 

 121-122

Department 3, 1893-1894 

 123

Department 6, 1892-1897 

 124

Department 7, 1893-1897 

 125-126

Department 8, 1894-1897 

 127-129

Department 9, 1893-1897 

 130-131

Department 10, 1892-1897 

 132-133

Department 12, 1894-1897 

 134

Department 14, 1893-1897 

 135

Department 15, 1892-1897 

 136

Department 17, 1891-1897 

 137-138

Department 18, 1891-1897 

 139-141

Department 19, 1891-1897 

 142-143

Department 24, 1889-1896 

 144

Department 25, 1889-1895 

 145

Department 26, 1893-1897 

 146-147

Department 28, 1894-1897 

 148

Department 31, 1894-1897 

 149-150

Department 35, 1892-1897 

 151

Wages, 1899 

 152-153

Subseries C: Salary Ledgers, 1911-1927 
Box

Salary ledgers, 1911-1927 

 154-155

Subseries D: Piece Work Ledgers, 1886, 1891-1897 
Box

Wages, 1886 

 156

Wages, 1891-1897 

 157-162

Subseries E: Contracts, 1895-1919 
Box

Labor contract book, 1915-1919 

 163

Contractor's earnings, 1895-1898 

 164

Contractor's earnings, 1907 

 164a

Subseries F: Other Labor records, 1867-1951 
Box

Accident reports, 1893-1915, 1923-1929 

 165

Casket Hardware Association, 1904-1905 

Committee of Manufacturers Association of Connecticut Re: Workmen's compensation, 1911-1913 

Compensation, 1910-1915   (5 folders)

Department key, 1924 

Dinners and social events, 1893-1927 

Employee benefits, 1913, 1917, 1931 

National Metal Trades Association, New Haven Branch, 1909 

Newspaper clippings, 1912, 1914-1915, 1945 

Office and factory rules, 1867, 1926, 1942 

Payroll, 1935-1944   (4 folders)

Payroll distribution, 1943-1944 

Payroll, weekly distribution ( Ziegler Sargent), 1933-1937 

Wage Distribution Policy, 1951 

Wages, rates, 1891-1895 

Wages, review, 1882 

Working conditions, 1926, 1931, 1938-1946   (8 folders)
Box

Sargent General Rules (poster), 1930 

 OS

Return to Table of Contents »

Series VI: Sales, 1852-1955 

Subseries A: Sales Records, 1870-1948 

Notices to Salesmen 
Box

Prices, 1919 

 166

Prices, 1920-1922 

Prices, 1932   (3 folders)

Prices, 1933   (3 folders)

Sales Convention programs, 1915-1929   (2 folders)

Sales Convention: Talks by Engineers, 1948 

Sales Manual, 1925 

Publications 

“Builders' Hardware from the Ground Up”, 1924 

“Hardware for Utility and Ornamentation”, 1927 

Confidential prices, 1917-1922   (20 folders)

Net competitive prices, 1937-1945 
Box

Prices and estimates, 1870-1895   (6 folders)

 167

Price change sheets, 1921   (3 folders)

Price lists, 1914 

Lock prices, 1924 

Price change book, 1877-1879 

Price change book, 1892-1895 

Sales account book: exports, 1881-1905 

Product lists, 1888 

Sales account book, 1893-1910 

Sales account book, 1898 

Special case book, 1911 

Electrotype sales account book, 1914 

Ordered on Factory, 1923-1926   (3 folders)

Sales projections, 1944 

War line prices, 1944 
Box

Sales record book, 1871-1902 

 168

Gas meter graphs, 1925-1927 
Box

Sales account book, 1925-1927 

 169

Sales chart book, 1924-1926 

Subseries B: Sales Journals, 1881-1901 
Box

Coffin hardware, 1890-1892 

 170

Coffin hardware, 1896-1898 

 171

Coffin hardware, 1899-1901 

 172

Locks, 1891-1892 

 173

Locks, 1894 

 174

Locks, 1896 

 175

New England Territory, 1881 

 176

Locks, 1897 

 177

Locks, 1897-1898 

 178

Locks, 1898 

 179

Locks, 1899 

 180

Locks, 1899-1900 

 181

Locks, 1900-1901 

 182

Small locks, 1892 

 183

Small locks, 1892-1893 

 184

Small locks, 1893-1894 

 185

Small exports, 1890-1892 

 186

Small exports, 1896-1898 

 187

Small exports, 1899-1901 

 188

Small special 108, 1892-1895 

 189

Small special 108, 1895-1898 

 190

Small special 108, 1898-1899 

 191

Small special, 1893-1894 

 192

Small special, 1894-1895 

 193

Small special, 1897-1898 

 194

Subseries C: Catalogs, undated, 1852-1955 

Sargent and Company 
Box

 1861   (6 v.)

 195

 1863   (3 v.)

 1864   (2 v.)

 undated   (2 v.)

Coffin hardware, 1866 

 1866   (4 v.)

 1869   (5 v.)
Box

 1870   (2 v.)

 196

 1871   (8 v.)
Box

 1874   (6 v.)

 197

 1874   (3 v.)

 198

 1877   (3 v.)
Box

 1877-1879   (6 v.)

 199

 1880   (3 v.)

 200

 1880-1881   (1 v.)
Box

 1880   (5 v.)

 201

 undated   (1 v.)
Box

 1884   (5 v.)

 202

 1884   (4 v.)

 203

 1887   (2 v.)

 204

Door locks, 1886 

Door locks, 1887   (5 v.)

 1888   (2 v.)
Box

B. design, 1889   (1 v.)

 205

 1888   (4 v.)
Box

 1894   (1 v.)

 206

Screen hardware, 1913-1914 

 206

Discount sheet, 1916 

R. E. Voorhees copy, undated 

Locks and Hardware, 1926   (2 v.)

Condensed price listing, 1936 

Articles in stock, 1936 

Marine hardware, 1936 

Marine hardware, 1939 

Marine hardware, 1943 

Locks and hardware, limited war line, 1943   (2 v.)
Box

Temporary catalogue #46, undated 

 207

Restricted Production line, undated 

Limited war line, 1943 

Catalogue #42, 1941 

Marine hardware discount sheet, 1944 

Locks and hardware, 1948   (3 v.)

Quick exit devices, 1955 

Russell & Erwin, 1852 

Russell & Erwin, 1856 

Russell & Erwin, 1857 

Davenport, Mallory & Company, 1867 

Hogan, Clarke & Sleeper, 1874 

Lumber yards of John F. Carr, 1886 

Duggan Parker, 1884 

O.S. Walker & Company, magnetic chucks, undated 

Beardslee Chandelier Manufacturing Company, undated 

Parker Metal-Goods Company, 1937 

Richard-Wilcox Manufacturing, 1948 

Stearns Lawnmower, catalogue #34, 1937 

Harvey Rolling Hardware, 1947 

Parker Wire Goods, 1947 

Stover Hardware, catalogue #25, 1925 

Earle Hardware Manufacturing Company, tubular lock and latch sets, 1949 

American Watchman's Time Detector Company, undated 

New York Lock Company, 1904 

Ladd's Discount book, 1910 

Merrill Manufacturing Company, catalogue #400, 1952 

Larson Company, Condensed Price catalogue, 1949 

Colonial Bronze Company, builders' hardware, 1940 
Box

M.S. Brooks, catalogue #103, 1949 

 207A

Grand Specialties Company, 1947 

Cincinnati Tool Company, catalogue #37, 1937 

Bronson Company, catalogue #103, 1949 

Hartford Clamp Company, catalog #60, undated 

Armstrong Tools, catalogue S-48, 1948 

Griswald Manufacturing Company, undated 

A.W. Crossman and Son, price list, 1870 

Hancock Tool Manufacturing Company, undated 

Lund Equipment Co., Catalogue and price list #16, 1947 

Vincent J. Lawler Company, 1949 

Hindley Manufacturing Company, undated 

Victor Manufacturing Company, undated 

Architectural and Art Industrial Works, 1892 

Sales Flyers, undated 

Envelope for "Sargent Superior Bull Rings," undated 
Box

Undated catalogues, undated 

 208

Advertising scrapbooks, 1890-1909 

 209

Advertising scrapbooks, 1911-1914 

 210

Advertising scrapbooks, 1923-1926 

 211

Advertising scrapbooks, 1927-1931 

 212

Sample book, hardware, 1889-1892 

 213

Sample book, coffin hardware, 1893 

 214

Mallory, Wheeler & Co., catalogue, 1871 

 215

Mallory, Wheeler & Co., catalogue, 1876 

 216

Return to Table of Contents »

Series VII: General Accounts, 1858-1955 

Subseries A: Cash Books, 1867-1910 
Box

 1867-1877 

 217-222

 1880-1884 

 223-225

 1888-1895 

 226-230

 1910 

 231

Subseries B: Day Books—New York Office, 1900-1910 
Box

 1900-1910 

 232-234

Subseries C: Day Books, 1872-1880 
Box

 1872-1880 

 235

Subseries D: Journals, 1864-1888, 1900-1927 
Box

 1864-1868 

 236-238

 1900-1927 

 234-242

 1858-1862 

 243

 1868-1872 

 244-245

Subseries E: Invoices Payable, 1899-1904 
Box

 1899-1904 

 246

Subseries F: Check Registers, 1878, 1897, 1906-1910 
Box

 1878-1891 

 247

 1893-1897, 1906-1910 

 248

Subseries G: Trial Balances, 1897-1926 
Box

 1897-1926 

 249

Subseries H: Ledgers, 1864-1928 
Box

New York series indexes, undated 

 250-253

New York series, 1871-1912 

 254-268

New Haven series, 1883-1912 

 269-281

Coffin Hardware series, 1885-1928 

 282-288

State series A, 1911-1918 

 289-296

State series B, 1918-1922 

 297-308

State series C, 1922-1924 

 309-319

Hand cards, 1874-1879 

 320

Ledger A, 1864-1884 

 321-322

Ledger, 1866-1871 

 323

Ledger C, 1871-1873 

 324

Ledger (New York), 1867-1874 

 325

Ledger: receivables, 1889-1904 

 326-327

Sargent Trust, 1884-1888 

 328

Ledger, 1903-1927 

 329

Suspense, 1924-1926 

 330

Ledger sheets, undated 

 331

Subseries I: Financial Records and Accounts, 1868-1954 
Box

Ledgers: New Haven, 1889, 1910, 1918, 1922, 1926 

 332

Ledger and journal: Chicago, 1911   (2 v.)

 333

Ledger, 1900-1909 

 333

Private ledger and journal: New York, 1922-1926   (2 v.)
Box

Operating journal, 1927 

 334

Payable, 1907-1918 

Index, 1901-1909 

Distribution, 1901-1910 

Accounts, 1912-1929   (2 v.)
Box

Internal financial statements, 1929-1946 

 335

Insurance, 1868-1923 

Account book, undated 
Box

Ledgers: Harris Bros., 1858-1869   (3 v.)

 336

Inventory sheets, New Haven factories, 1873 

Wright and Campbell, 1883-1884 

Payroll log, 1885 

Receipts: J. Bradford and  H. Sargent, 1888-1902 

Leger: City book, 1897-1899 

Stock certificates: Sargent, 1887-1908 

Balance sheet: Profit and Loss, 

Chicago, 1916-1918 

New Haven, 1923-1926 

New York, 1921, 1923, 1924   (3 v.)

General, 1926-1927 

Trial balance, 1927 

Financial forecasts, 1954 
Box

Statement of gross and operating profits, 1926 

 337

Investments, 1926-1932   (3 folders)

Return to Table of Contents »

Series VIII: Predecessor and Subsidiary Companies, 1853-1879 

Peck & Walter Manufacturing Company 
Box

Correspondence, 1921-1951 

 338

Official Records, 1853-1858 

Stock ledger, 1853-1856 

 1855-1859   3 volumes,

Building drawing, 1853 

Sargent Card Clothing Company 
Box

Record book, 1866-1879 

 338

Sargent Wharf Company 

Records, 1871 

Return to Table of Contents »

Series IX: Sargent Family Papers, undated, 1720-1955 
Box

Denny Family Letters, c. 1720 

 339

Colonel Paul Dudley Sargent, 1745-1827 

Joseph D. Sargent 

Correspondence, 1802-1846 

Receipts and Contracts, 1807-1860 

Estate papers, 1848-1856 

Congregational Society report (reprint of 1820), 1953 

Joseph Bradford Sargent 

Biographical material, 1822-1907 

Correspondence, 1840-1906 

Wills and trusts, 1873-1893 

Withdrawal of suit, Talcott H. Russell, 1875-1886 

Promissory notes, 1870-1900 

Addresses and articles, 1882-1905 

Expressions of sympathy upon death, 1907 

Memorabilia, undated 

George Henry Sargent 

Correspondence, biographical material, 1828-1917 

Scrapbook, 1885-1917 

Henry Bradford Sargent 

Biographical materials, 1851-1927 

Correspondence, addresses, 1864-1927 

Genealogical correspondence, notes, 1897-1925 

Clubs, 1890-1920 

Colby Club, 1900-1927   (2 folders)

Harris County “Mill Tract” land: Legal records, 1892, 1897-1898 

Henry Edward Sargent 

Promissory notes, 1886-1900 

Joseph Denny Sargent 

Biographical material, 1860-1936 

Zeigler Sargent 
Box

Correspondence, 1900-1955   (6 folders)

 340

Manuscripts, undated   (9 folders)
Box

Manuscripts, undated   (2 folders)

 341

Notes, undated   (3 folders)

Patrizate Club, 1915-1949 

Sargentrivia, v. I-XIII, 1943-1955   (13 folders)

Photographs: family and company buildings, c. 1890-1951   (5 folders)

Sargent Community Association, 1953 

HSargent Yale button, 1841 
Box

Manufacturing and Mercantile interests, undated   (4 charts)

 OS

Photographs, New Haven Sales Organization, 1925 

 OS

Return to Table of Contents »